Safety device



Jan. 20, 1931. l A. E. FINLEY 1,789,622

SAFETY DEVICE4 l Filed sept. 29. 192s s sheets-sheet 1 v inve/Maf".#Ide/ iF/'U59'.

@gift/.5.

Jan. 20, 1931. A. E. FINLEY 1,789,622

' SAFETY DEVICE Filed sept. 29, 1928. :s sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 20, 1931.

A. E. FlNLl-:Y

vSAFETY DEVICE Filed Sept. 29. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v f 30 vantage ofmy inventionvis` the This invention f relates 'to Vsafetyfldevic'es 5 1and more particularlyT tofa ydevice especially' *i adapted' for use withsubmarine boats. i

It frequently occurs that, f, conditions or other lcauses;u'navoidableAdelay is encountered ineifecti'ng the rescue of the menk from Vasubmarine boatvWhich has marine boat as a part; of the structure there?vof,V such meansrendering it vpossible-to sup- 20 ply freshair, food, andother necessities to ftheoccupants of the disabled boat.' It is alsopossible, by my invention, for the occupants oi' the disabled boat tocommunicate directly with persons 'exterior of the boat .inthe '25 eventthat other.. incansofy communication are not readily available.' Thedevice of my invention is so'vcassociated with vthefhull of the yboatvas' to^'serve, jiny a supplemental a'- Vpacit to reinforce the same.. lA urtherfadpossibility 0f releasing, from Within the boat, signal= buoysand selfl lightingares. My yinvention valso renders it possible toconnect to the interior oiftheV boat various appliancesfor' salvage andother purposes, ucts from Within the disabledboatcg Furtherobjects'andadvantages of my invention will appear from the. detaileddescription.

the drawings:-4 f g Fig. l vis afvievvin. vsideelevation ofi a sub-Vmarine boat yhaving.,safety devices constructed in accordance With inyinvention applied thereto; Fig. 2 isa Jlf'a'gmen't'ary sectional ,View

through the laullf`-jof vtheboat shovvingrjthe illustrating` thegifnan-Idevice as applied. "nerjof removal of the outer Vclosure cap; j

VVFig. 3 1s andthe device applied thereto,' on 'an'en- 5o, l'aiged scale1p`arts being shown in elevation;

vshevving theinterlock dueto Weather applied; f

themen could be sustained'until'- rescue was effected byfproviding asuitable` j '15 supply of fresh 'nventionhas to doj'pa'rticu'f` and toeXpelWa'ste prod' a sectional'vievv through the yhull i FigAi throngandfsignal means;

Fig. ffisfan outer end view .of the devicefais--` yfrragaientarysectional il `gthe' Vdevice' .at the' lruiter end thereof v Figf"9 is avertical sectional'vie'iv a' second modified?formofY my invention as iusediinfconnection With'air hose.'- a 'My.invention isfparticularlyadapted for Luse vvithasubmaiiine boat vvB of the double hullv Y type-inc'lu'din'g? an hull though it is -not 'limited-to this one 'use 'asit can alsobe'freadilyapplied lto boats of single hull construction.V*ln accordancefvvith my invention, I lprovide a lcylindricaltubularmember 3 which at its',outer, edby la capa Which screws onto theVI'nembe'r-'and formsaWa-ter tight-closurevtherewith.,l The inner fendfoi'. member', which opens into a. compartment 'ofthejboatyisclosedbyacap rwhichyl'ikefcap i 4,'screv'vs onto the end ofinember andffo rms a watertight closure'tlierevvith.: Member-B innerhull'l and anjoutervi extends throught@ hun@ 1 f [andQZ and isvopen atkbot-fh ends.y r"llhismemv is provided, adjacentfitsv outer endyw'ithfanintegralfradialvlange GQWhich is secured tof hullQbyFrivet'svo'rfinianyother suitable man-c y f ner; flange yring i'sgsc'revved uponthe inner end portion ofinember 3 into kContact' With the `inner:tace'of hull lto ivhic'h'it is secured vby rivets 9., or'inanyfothersuitablel i l lor the hun of the im;Y and is pfovided @pasmanner'. "Ithusprovidea cylindrical tubular ends withv removable Waterjtight Qclosure membersl j Cap is provided, at air connection inthe'nipple' 10, kthe bore of'which extends through' thec'ap'i by a ductY10a( Y a closure capll screvved thereon andserving to forma Water tightclosure ofthe outerend, oi the nipple.l diametrically extending? V'rib12 namingv an Thisnipple'receives yThis cap, ,isjprovided'vvith a loo jcan be utilized to render assistance to the menk ventry of moisturethereinto.l closure member 19 isprovided Lwithan eyef20- opening V13.This rib provides means for threading the caponto or off of the nippleby inserting a suitable instrument through thel opening or eye 13 or bygrasping the rib 12 f in a suitable manner. The cap 5 is provided on itsinner face withfan airconnection in the form of a nipple 14 openingthrough the cap 5 by means' of a duct 15.

closure capj16 similarto cap 11H-Iti will: be

noted that the cap 16 of the airfc'onnection-14- sure may be suppliedtothe compartment'ofl the boat into which the member 3 opens.

` The tubular member 3 receives a cylindrical container 17 of a diameterto be readily inserted into and withdrawn from the tubular member and tooccupy substantially'the full interior' space thereof. This container isclosed( at one end and is provided at such end with an e e 18. At itsother end, the container is c osedk by a suitablegcap 19 screwed ontothe endoi the container,vwhich is reduced and exteriorly' threaded forthis puri pose. This cap lforms a removable air tight and water tightclosure for the other end of the container. A suitable ygasket may Vbeassociated with the cap kfor vassuring the proper closure of thecontainer in such manner as to electively eliminate Thiscap or similarto the eye 18. These eyes are adaptedy for reception of lines insertedthereinto` for `raising and lowering the container to and from thesurface. n y y In practice, I provide two vtubular members 3-for eachofthe compartments of the boat, these members bein disposed kat o positesides ofthe hull so t at,in the event t e hull is resting on itsside insucha position as to render the devices at one side thereofinaccessible, the devices vat the other side of the hull in thevdisabled boat. Normally the container V17 remains within the tubularmember 3 and,

preferably,this container has disposed there- 1n suitable supplies suchas might be required` by the men in the boat,such as emergency rations,oxygen, and medical and surgical supplies. In the event of the boatbecoming disabled through collision or other cause, the men within theycompartment removel the in.-

- ner cap 5 and withdraw the .container 17 therefrom, andpthen removethe'contents of the container. After this has been done, the rankingmanin the compartment, who assumes command, writes out a list of men anda report of the accident, giving whatever in- This nipple is sim#` rilarto the nipple 1() of cap 4 and receives a possibility of formation isnecessary in effecting rescue work. If the men in the compartment are inn need of immediate assistance in some particular respect, as, forinstance, if air isrequired, thisfact is stated 1n writing on theexterior of the container, whichvis provided witha portion 17a of itsexterior surface which is sanded, or treated in any other suitable or lpreferred manner, so asto be readily written upon.4 The container isthen tightly closed by the'cap l19 and is replaced in the tubular member3, the' closure capv 5v being then -screwed tightly onto the inner endof member 3. The diver then removes the cap et by means of a bar 21(Figure 2) or other suitable implement inserted between a pair ofsegmental `lugs 273 provided on-the outer face/of cap 4: for thispurpose. Theicap 5 is provided with similar lugs 23a adaptedforcooperation with al bar or other implementy for screwing this caponto and of'of the inner endof the'tubular member 3. vAi'ter removingthe cap 4, the diver withdraws the container 17 and inspects theexterior thereof carefully to see if there is any message requestingimmediate aid in any particular with lwhichjthe diver is yable to complysuch as. or instance, a request for air. The container isthen hookedonto a suitable line and drawn to the surface vessel from which thediver operates, where it `is opened onto, the outer end of the tubularvmemberv to form a water-tight closure therewith. The

occupants of the compartment of th e boat then remove the cap `5 andwithdraw the container ifrom the tubular member 3, after whichthecontainer is emptied and is replaced in the tubular member in the'manner described. Thisv provides simple and'highly efficient meanswhereby the men in the compartment of t-he disabled boat can receivenecessary ysupplies and can communicate with persons exterior thereof. i

As will be readily apparent vit is, of course, essentialthat the cap 5at the inner end of the tubular member 3 be not removed while the cap 4is removed from they outer end of.

such member. To eliminate this possibility due to confusion 1n signalsor other causes, I

provide suitable interlock and, signalling meanswhereby the "removal of.the capy at either end of-the tubularmember 3 is pre- @e vented when thecap at theotherend of this M member is removed. Referring more 'foarvticularly to Figures 3 and 4, I provide'two' rods 24 which are slidablymounted ,through `suitable bores in the wall of member 3, from lif-,789,922* i Vopposite endsthereof. Member 3.is1}; 1oi'fid 'vr Y ed,at each'end, withv arecess Q'inthe formi of-av narrow slot in whichoperatesfan iiidif eating and locking-i 'ember 26 :which is rock-1 -lably mounted on a-f'pin QTextendingftrans- Vversely of the slotQ `Thispin is provided with an angularly disposed finger 28 which Y contactswith theadjacentend of theorod 24;

operates vvithaV proJecting inwardly rom'thef'inner face ot f acontinuation ofthe :s with the-fingers members 26 downwardly intov-in"operative, position within the; recessesYV or slots 25 as Y A Ywirespring 29 is" disposedv aboutthe pivot locking position..

lurality` of locking lug-S32 the adjacent capi. TherodsQ'areof suchlength that, when the 'caps 4f and 'are turned .onto the member` 3 'intofull closed position, the heads 24a of vthe rods' 'Contact u,

428 :and swing thezloclring illustratedV in fulllines inl Figure'. AEach- .suitable thickness Vto withstand pressureto which it is`subjected, thisA block closure cap `is provided with4v a' theorm oapaneorblock of glassl 33 ofE being'suitably set intothefcapl. Block33`is nous' edge of the occupants of disposed in alignment ywithanopening "34' in thel cap so arrange'dthat when the cap is screwed intoits full operative 'position upon the tubular 'me1nber3, lockingn'iember "'26 Willlbe in alignment-with the'opening3.v TheV edge of thelocking meinber'adjacent the cap 4 is preferablyooated with a/'suitableluminous substanceso `as to be'freadily visible Vthrough the glass33.1YUnde'r -normal 1 conditions, withY both ofthefclosurecapsinposition, thelocking inembersgQG are in depressed orinoperative position'sothat either cap can befremo'ved.` ,in example,the inner cap 5 is removed, the rod- 24- which contacts with this capis'released permitting the memberl 26 to 29 into substantially thedottedline' position of Figure 4. When in member 26 is disposed in thepath-oi` the adjacent lug 32 of-cap readily determine-'whether .thecapoat the inner end of the tubularinexnber 'has been. Yremoved asremovalfof thisfcapv is indicated by' the absence ofthe luminousVedgeofmember 26 from in back of thjerglass*83,-replacoment of the capbeing indicated bythe lumi;-

member 126 being visible throughV the glass 33. Inthe samemanner,

' comp artnifentagainst an .pl-aces the cap 4. -v

the same t 'the' high ing supplies to the wardly. of member byy itsassociatedspring this position.V the* tand serves to 'et'- ,5 'ectuallyprevent removal of this-cap; By'

glancing through the glassr, the diver-can 'Cap-4, sgtheln replaced.v

:through the nipple the compartiment into.

endf" of @thisl member iis In Athe events thatV ,occupantsv the" memberof an jair' hose' eXtendingromthe l this hose underypressure ina' Iknownmali-j nerffdesired, the divers air line ymaybe stood in the art. Afterthey connection has been made'to Vthe nipplelO, the diver signalsprovided Withisnitable means for coiinectingg` f the nipple 10,`as iswelljnnd `erv etichette tubular,:memberejepes-sean-gagi4; 'l4VilvdetermineWhetherthe cap-#Lattheouten"` :i i

tojgbe limited in vanyYY way vto :the particular means set forth hereinl'i farein" urgent-need yor air, -vtlie-gv f *diverfatter' removing`heeontainer 17, `re-` j 'Hethefnremoves'the'cap 1 1 Vfromth-x'outerairfconnection or'nipple* lOand screws: vonto" Vthisnipple a connecting'Y 'compa'rtment.l

8V thence into` .the compartment V ofithe disabled lboat'. zAfter a`Vsuilicient of air has been' yforcedy intoy 'the Compartment air.connection may member 3 may vlloweused afs before for yconvey-, v

men within the submarine.- 1n the eventthat"a'fcornpartxnenthas Atwo ofthese devices available vrtor use, one of them canlbeused foreonveyingsupplies to the 'compartmentfandfthe other' canbe` utilizedforsupplying'. fresh air'to thecom-y 5 f vwill bereaiolily understoodfpartment, as

In practice, ythe diver after reaching-the Ydisabled boat, l movesijalong ithe boat and hull with-a hammer. atfshort:ink j strikes thetervals.` lVhen his signals are. answered from a compartment,hejproceeds 4as above described, to renderl aid tthe` V,occupantsthereotyupln the event tha-tjhe receives no .to insur'ethe safetyof themen thereiin'the, 5 *7' be discontinued .andthe neet an airglineto suchcompartment toblow" -1 it ontlforv salvage purposes.

To.; accomplish' this, thecap 1c/is removed and ,thefoontainer' 17,is;w,ithdraiv'ni'from` the member S, after which the`cap'liis'renioved-from the inner Y f let, andthe closure if;

nipplesorairQoonneetion u Cap ll isthen -removed'from the nipplelO andthe air line is "connected vto this."

compartment. In the' event that there are survivorsin this compartment,who, dueto i weakness or other cause,resultlng-ifrombadly. 'Y liao air,Wereiunable lto answery thedivers signals, the supply of freshair tothiscompart'- n mentwill serve to revive'rsuchv survivors, who

l1o s t VTand 8,v I have provided atubular member formed of two sections36 and a coupling liner, though this is notfessential. Each ofy f issecured to the bottom f aligned with sleeves 41.

*formed integrally with, a p Plate 38'is riveted or otherwisesuitably`2o can then signal to the diver. The di-Vers first duty is,` ofcourse','torender all v assistance possible to the survivors in thedisabled boa-t. After this has been done, any flooded compartments maybe blown out to assist 1n salvaging theboat and facilitate.` rescue ofthe survivors therein. 9^ e f vInt-her modified forml illustrated inFigs.

sleeve 37 fitting aboutsuch sections and secured thereto by welding.vThe tubular member may be provided with a. suitable the sect-ions 36 iscarried by, and preferably plate 38 or 39.

secured tothe inner'face of hull`40 at the top thereof. This platecarries two bearing s1eeves41 which pro] ct through openings 42 in' thehull. Pla-te 38 is also provided with stuffing boxes 43 on its innerface,- aligned with sleeves 41. The outer plate 39 Y wall 44 of a boxingor depression 45` formed in superstructure 46V and-normallycovered by aremovable plate' 47. t Y f Plate 3.9 is provided, in its upper face,with two bearing sleevesl 48 and 49 which are An operating shaft 50v isrotatably mounted andthe aligned sleeve 41 and stuffing box 43 of plate40. A second shaft 51 is rotatably mounted through sleeve 48 and theother sleeve and stuffing box of the inner plate.`

A worm 52 is secured on shaft 50 and meshes with a gear segment 53vpivoted `at 54 between two parallel ribs or flanges-55 connecting sleeve49 and tube section 36 of 'plate39.` Gear lsegment 53 is formedinconnecting stuffing box 43 and the inner tube section 3 tegrally with,or otherwise suitably secured to a cover 56 for closing the outer end ofthe tube. The worm 52 is confined between sleeve 49 and the bightportion 57 of an inverted U-shapedbracket 58 secured to the upper faceof plate 39 and straddling sleeve 49. A stop collar 59 is secured onshaft 50 and contacts theupper face ofelement 57. The shaftis thus heldagainst endwise movement in either direction. The shaft is rturned j indesired direction either from within or without the compartment of hull40 by means of hand wheels 60 secured on theV ends ofthe shaft, Shaft 51isheld against endwise movement'in the same manner as shaft 50, and isprovided with hand wheels 60 and a. wormv 52 secured thereon.' Vform 52of shaft y5l meshes with gear'segment 53 which carries cover 56for theinner end of the tube', this gearv segment being pivoted at v54 .betweenribsv or ianges 55a.

, hull.

through sleeve 49 `closed position either By means of thefshafts andassociated gear,

the cover at eitherend of vthe tube can be.

opened` either interiorly orexteriorly of the kThe tube structurepreferably connects the'hulland the-superstructure, as illustrated.This'has the advantage of. providing firml and level footing for thedivers, and'avoids the great 'handicap incident to working in the mud orfioma swinging scaf- .fold at the side of the disabled submarine.Placing thetube structure at the top .of the compartment also renders itfeasible to releasel small buoys` and self gniting signals orflares fromythe disabled boat, byproper manipulation of thev covers. Whetlierthecover 'at the inner end of the tube is closed, 'Y

can be readily determinedv from the exterior of the hull by turningshaft 51 in cover clos ing direction. In the same'manner, the occu-Ypants of the compartment in vhull 40 cande-V termine whether the outercover is closed. If

the inner cover is not closed, the diver should v close it beforeopeningthe outer cover,and the` occupants of the disabled boat shouldclose the outer cover,if open, before opening' the innercover. Y v

In the form of Figs. 7 and Skthe tube is formed of three members, thetwosections 36 and the coupling 37. This is advantageous, as the lengthof the tube structure can be varied to suit the distance between thesuperstructure and the hull of the particular boat to which the deviceis applied. The device may thus be standardized so as to be readilyapplied to present day submarine boats of different types. This devicemay also be applied to double hulled boats, and I dol not intend to inany way limit its usetosingle hull boats.

Themodified form of F ig. 9 employs a tube 61 carried by a plate 62riveted, or otherwise suitably secured, to the hull 40. A cover'63 ispivoted at 64 between a pair of arms 65 extending from the inner end ofthe tube.r A gear segment 66, rigid with the cover, meshes a worm 67secured onV a shaft- 68 rotatably mounted through a stuffing box ingsleeve 70 of plate 62, this shaft alsoextendingthrough a. bearing sleeve71 secured to the under face of superstructure 72. VHand wheels 73 aresecured on the ends of shaft'68. By rotating the shaft in the properdirection the cover can be moved into either open o r ofthe hull. y Tube61 is provided, at its outer end, with an exteriorly threaded shoulder74 upon which are threadedclamping rings 75 at opposite faces of thedeck of superstructure 72, these rings serving to' securely clamp theouter end of the tube'to the superstructure. The shoulder 74 normallyreceives a screw cap similar to thatvof Figs.y 1 and 2, for closing the:outer end of the tube. This shoulder is also adapted to receive aninteriorly threaded exteriorly or interiorly 69 and beari 1Q be closed,if required', While the hose is con- I inner hose pipeBOissuitably-'connected to the j Y upper end of this tube.

ring 76 ofa coupling?? lsecured onionejend Aj tube .'81 is' suitablylmounted in Ythelovver endof vthe-l tube77 9 to provide a slip joint Vso-that the cover 63 can nected tothe tube 6l V With the hose pipeYSconnected todtube i .'61, fresh air can be; supplied -tothe compartiv'N15' ment -Withinhull L lO-'through hose" SO'fandy through tubelandho'se 'p ipef.V A tube or hose can be connected to tube 79er tube81,if desired, to admit the fresh! air atany `i Tering the Water levelinthey compartment, s

' teriorly of the hulland its other end' openlngiz;A

' g tightly onto, orremovefit from; the

w it is not -nece'ssarylthat the-diver first signal the occupant of.acompartnient by signaling.; *I-Ie can readily determine, means of thehandwheela'in which compartments the vinl- V Vnercovers of theV tubesare closed. IIis` rst iduty is to remove'the containers from such*tubes,`` examine them f forjvvritingfand v then these tubes.

to the interior of the disabled boat,

quickly coupled 'to the ,tudJeQ-f` VVhen the disabled Vartmentsfforrescueljor salva e" ur os'es'u p g p p both exteriorlyandopeningand l ducted from a surface ship it is equally! Well adaptedforuse in such operations conduct? tubes 7 9 and 817 the foul airpassing out desired locationv in the compartment, though ordinarily thismay not fbe' `ne'ce'ssary., viously', a hosepipe connectedto the-tube'lmay be used for many otherVV purposes, such as a speaking tube", forconducting'supplies providing; pumping y connections or apparatus forlovv-` etc. VI also contemplate providing 'the' tube illustrated'ii'iFigs. 7. and 8 With'ieither interior Vor exterior threadsnatits outerend', whereby a h'osepipe,jorjother appliance'ha 'e ing a suitablecouplingqmeniber; can be from.k kThese arms -lg'irovid-e gripsfor handholdsvvhich enable the diverto turn thering tube With'- 4 out thenseof'tools; boat isequipped ivith the apparatus of Figs. 7 and `8, or ofvFigfS,

send them to the rescue lboat or ship. After the needs of thesurvivors'inthe ydisabled boat have been attendedk to the Adiver may Yopen theouterfc'overs O 'thetubes leading to the. floodedl compartments andthenconnect air lines to such tubes Ato blow out such c0111-,

after Whichvhe' opensvthe inner .coversoiV While I have described mydevice as used. 1n yconnection with rescue operations Vcon'-Y edfrom asubmerg'ged ship, such va rescue submarine sucli-as thatdisclosedinathetco; 4

supplies. to be,- kept; alive lfintil'V their rescue' canbe nien 3f." Ina submarine boat7 nections V carried by and :opening "fthrou'ghztherespective caps', i sible exterorl'y air'connections.

l. tubl lar m'en'iberhaving'.one` endjopening exi Yteriorly ofy.inginteriorly fof the hull; removable' cove .for `theends of said,`"erable eXter-io'rly 'and interi'orly fof the;l 'Y :hull for! openingand vclosing the'covers. v

Yscribe myname ,622* 'y Se In `either'case;` my, `device'-prov idessimple v' and highly emcient means W herebymenen-r trapp'ednla kdisabledsubmarine 'boatcan vbe providedfvvithreshair-,and other'necessary` Y'fromthe'exteriorfofgtheboat s0 as,y Y

`f lf. Ina. submarin'eboatfi-ncombination; af i tubular memberyhavingfione end'openingannil tericrly of kthe hull and its' other endopeningV linteriorlyfof the fhull, 'removable Water tightclosure4members for the ends of said member,'a1r connections-xatjtheendsv oflthe tubularV member,` and closures forV said lcon-L 80 of 4 thefhu'lland itsfother end'open-v j ing Vinteri'orly of' the hull, removableyWater tiofh D ber,v an air connection openingthrough;V f

l'osur the innerclosuregmember,.fand removable .means accessibleeXteriorlyfoiithehullffifori closing said'c'onnection.- COmbmetmn-iatubular'member-having one end opening/eng interiorly Vof the hull','closurecapsremovably secured onthe endsoEsaidpmember,` air con-w fandremovable means acce f the hullf for' closingvar said 4.1i In H a5submarine' boat, in coinbination,

fthe-hull lfandfits `Yother f endAV ope tubularV member' having one endlopening ex'- i -teriorly of the hull anditsotherendlopening v f'interiorly ot the hull, removable fcovers for f the. ends-ofsaldmembcrfandmeans operable both exteriorly andinteri'orly]ofjthehullffor' opening ancl lclosingfthe innencovei@ said fmeans alsoserving to indicate exteriorlyfofl the hullWhetherthe;innerlcoveris closedi im 6L In assubma'rineboat,l incombination`,{a' tubular member having one end openingeie teriorly ofthe hull and its frother end opening interiorlyor,the hull, removablecovers for?v fthe ends of said member, and means'operable il y'-nteriorlyof the Vhull forf 'closing' the covers,V saidmeansfl I alsoserving to indicatewhether the interior'f `or exterior coveris closedf;j

pending application of vLawrenci-a- Y. Spear, V

filed Februaryfaoch, 1928, serial 10.255,634. l

